thedrifter
08-29-03, 01:06 PM
Mize's leadership defined by vision
August 29,2003
Twenty-six months. That's not a huge chunk out of a military career spanning more than 34 years. But many things can happen in a little more than two years - and, for Marine Corps Maj. Gen. David M. Mize, it has.
In 26 months, the United States can suffer the most deadly terrorist attack in its history. Young Marines and sailors can be deployed to such far-flung places as Iraq, Afghanistan, Horn of Africa, Kosovo, Kuwait and Cuba. And community issues with tremendous implications for the future of military and civilian populations alike can arise.
Mize is intimately acquainted with such events. He's lived them, breathed them and participated in them in his tour of duty as Marine Corps Base commanding general at Camp Lejeune. He was often the man in the middle.
He was at the helm of the base when terrorist-piloted planes took innocent people to their deaths on Sept. 11, 2001. It was his job to make certain the facility was secure and ready for anything terrorists might throw at it. Any breech of security at the base would have fallen directly on his shoulders.
Later, Mize would witness the deployment of thousands of young Marines stationed at Camp Lejeune to Afghanistan and Iraq. Those departures meant families left behind, and those families needed support, reassurance and, at times, a helping hand. Mize looked both on and off the base to pull together the resources to ensure those needs were met.
Mize also found himself functioning as the point man for Camp Lejeune in its dealings with the civilian community. It was in that role that Mize made the most of his 26 months.
He introduced a bold new strategic plan for Camp Lejeune that covered practically every aspect of life on base. The plan was aimed at keeping the base moving forward both in terms of operations and quality of life despite a funding crunch that shows no signs of letting up.
The strategic plan also acknowledged that the futures of the base and the surrounding community were intertwined, and Mize seemed to make it a personal mission to bring the two closer together. He pushed for Jacksonville and Onslow County to become partners in planning for the base's future.
Mize tackled issues - such as land-use planning, water scarcity and countywide sewer - from which most local politicians had shied away. Some of his critics might say Mize should have minded his own business, but they lack his understanding of modern realities.
Camp Lejeune has had many good commanding generals - solid military men - but few have dared to shake things up as Mize has done.
In the aftermath of heated debates over the county's Joint Land Use Study and the base-county wastewater treatment agreement, Mize has drawn mixed sentiment in the community. But this is a man who cared more for the community's future than his own popularity and comfort. He leaves behind a community that now actively seeks answers to tough issues rather than ignoring them.
As Mize relinquishes his command today, he deserves great credit for his stewardship of the base and the Marines and sailors entrusted to his care.
He also deserves a heart-felt thank you from his civilian neighbors for his leadership and vision that have positioned the base and community as full partners in the growth and development of our area.
No matter what a person's opinion on the issues that Mize has brought to the fore, no one can deny that we are all better off for having them out in the open and actively being addressed.
http://www.jacksonvilledailynews.com/SiteProcessor.cfm?Template=Details.cfm&StoryID=15504&Section=Opinion
Sempers,
Roger
:marine:
August 29,2003
Twenty-six months. That's not a huge chunk out of a military career spanning more than 34 years. But many things can happen in a little more than two years - and, for Marine Corps Maj. Gen. David M. Mize, it has.
In 26 months, the United States can suffer the most deadly terrorist attack in its history. Young Marines and sailors can be deployed to such far-flung places as Iraq, Afghanistan, Horn of Africa, Kosovo, Kuwait and Cuba. And community issues with tremendous implications for the future of military and civilian populations alike can arise.
Mize is intimately acquainted with such events. He's lived them, breathed them and participated in them in his tour of duty as Marine Corps Base commanding general at Camp Lejeune. He was often the man in the middle.
He was at the helm of the base when terrorist-piloted planes took innocent people to their deaths on Sept. 11, 2001. It was his job to make certain the facility was secure and ready for anything terrorists might throw at it. Any breech of security at the base would have fallen directly on his shoulders.
Later, Mize would witness the deployment of thousands of young Marines stationed at Camp Lejeune to Afghanistan and Iraq. Those departures meant families left behind, and those families needed support, reassurance and, at times, a helping hand. Mize looked both on and off the base to pull together the resources to ensure those needs were met.
Mize also found himself functioning as the point man for Camp Lejeune in its dealings with the civilian community. It was in that role that Mize made the most of his 26 months.
He introduced a bold new strategic plan for Camp Lejeune that covered practically every aspect of life on base. The plan was aimed at keeping the base moving forward both in terms of operations and quality of life despite a funding crunch that shows no signs of letting up.
The strategic plan also acknowledged that the futures of the base and the surrounding community were intertwined, and Mize seemed to make it a personal mission to bring the two closer together. He pushed for Jacksonville and Onslow County to become partners in planning for the base's future.
Mize tackled issues - such as land-use planning, water scarcity and countywide sewer - from which most local politicians had shied away. Some of his critics might say Mize should have minded his own business, but they lack his understanding of modern realities.
Camp Lejeune has had many good commanding generals - solid military men - but few have dared to shake things up as Mize has done.
In the aftermath of heated debates over the county's Joint Land Use Study and the base-county wastewater treatment agreement, Mize has drawn mixed sentiment in the community. But this is a man who cared more for the community's future than his own popularity and comfort. He leaves behind a community that now actively seeks answers to tough issues rather than ignoring them.
As Mize relinquishes his command today, he deserves great credit for his stewardship of the base and the Marines and sailors entrusted to his care.
He also deserves a heart-felt thank you from his civilian neighbors for his leadership and vision that have positioned the base and community as full partners in the growth and development of our area.
No matter what a person's opinion on the issues that Mize has brought to the fore, no one can deny that we are all better off for having them out in the open and actively being addressed.
http://www.jacksonvilledailynews.com/SiteProcessor.cfm?Template=Details.cfm&StoryID=15504&Section=Opinion
Sempers,
Roger
:marine: